Aldi and Arla deploy Polytag UV tags to track milk bottle recycling

Aldi and Arla have entered a new phase of work with UK traceability firm Polytag, applying UV-tagged labels to Arla's milk bottle range produced at its Oakthorpe site to track packaging through the recycling stream. The labels are printed by Saica Flex using a fluorescent ink from Sun Chemical, in what Sun Chemical describes as the first commercial use of that ink with Polytag's detection technology.

Why this mattersReal-time recycling-stream tracking gives brand owners and retailers data to support packaging circularity claims ahead of tightening EPR and recycled-content rules.

• UV-tagged labels applied to Arla's milk bottle range at its Oakthorpe site
• Labels printed by Saica Flex
• Fluorescent ink supplied by Sun Chemical, marking its first commercial use with Polytag's detection technology
• Ink tested against Recyclass Washing Quick Test Procedures and EPBP Quicktest QT 507
• Aldi UK involved via its Plastics and Packaging Director Luke Emery
• Arla Foods UK involved via its Head of Sustainability Helena Delgado Nordmann

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